Returning to the Mysterious Era-Chapter 374: One Versus Five

"You all!" Aro's face darkened.

He hadn't expected the other combat artists from the Eastern Alliance to sever ties so decisively. His plan had assumed that while some elders might refrain from taking action, others would, out of respect for the Eastern Nine Sects, stand alongside them. Yet, not a single one did.

With no allies willing to step up, a faint unease crept into Aro's heart, though he forced it down. The decisions of these combat artists might have a lasting impact on the power dynamics of the Eastern Covert Martial Arts world, but the immediate threat was more pressing.

Opposite him stood a man in a trench coat, emanating a killing intent so dense it seemed almost tangible. His gaze was cold, his pupils filled with unbridled malice. He looked ready to kill.

This was a top-tier combat artist, one at the peak of vitality. A single ultimate move had killed three opponents.

Yet Aro and the others could not back down or appear weak. This was about the reputation of the Eastern Nine Sects and their authority. Cassius had slain the sect master and Great Elder of Evil Eye Fist right at the start—an outrageous display of defiance!

This was no mere provocation or insult. It was war! And in war, there was no room for compromise. The event was taking place in front of other sect elders, and if the Eastern Nine Sects backed down, their authority would be in shambles.

The timing was perfect. Cassius had shown up on the last day of the Eastern Martial Arts Exchange Tournament, likely intending to use the prestige and influence of the Eastern Nine Sects as a stepping stone to fame.

Aro and his comrades had only one choice—to fight! Although Cassius was a top-tier combat artist, an ultimate move came at a tremendous cost to his Qi and mind. The immense force needed to unleash such power would have left his body internally strained.

After using an ultimate move, even a top-tier combat artist would experience a significant period of weakness, with combat effectiveness dropping by as much as 20-30 percent, or even 40-50 percent in severe cases. In this weakened state, the five Eastern Nine Sects combat artists had a real chance to take him down, especially given that two of them were veteran combat artists, and one had just reached their level.

So, even with the Eastern Alliance watching from the sidelines, the five from the Eastern Nine Sects did not retreat.

"Are you from the Red Falcon Fist Sect?" Aro recalled Hugo's last words and had a guess. Red Falcon Fist was likely an old rival of Evil Eye Fist, once defeated and destroyed. Now, a descendant had returned to settle a grudge.

This vendetta, by the unwritten rules of the Covert Martial Arts world, was justified.

But the Eastern Nine Sects hardly cared about rules. Since the Eastern Alliance's founding, many of the Covert Martial Arts rules had been set by the Nine Sects. combat artists were no exception!

"No, I am not from Red Falcon Fist, though I am somewhat connected to it. I am from the Golem Sect, a small and unknown sect," Cassius replied with a faint smile. "But after today, the Golem Sect will be known across the Covert Martial Arts world. All thanks to this tournament..."

Aro narrowed his eyes at Cassius's taunt.

"You five are readying yourselves for battle—are you planning to gang up on me?" Cassius scanned the first floor of Black Pupil Tower with icy contempt, shrugging off his trench coat.

"If you're so eager to fight, then what are we waiting for? Bring it on!" With a swift motion, he tore off his sleeves, revealing arms like chiseled white stone, ready for movement and power.

"Attack!" Aro shouted, lunging forward. His feet hammered the marble floor as his form blurred. In unison, the other four from the Eastern Nine Sects surged forward, transforming into black streaks alongside Aro's. From above, five shadows converged on Cassius from every direction.

"Southern Dipper Sonic Snake Fist!" Cassius's stance remained steady, his whole frame locked into position while his arms moved like iron rods, creating milky-white vortexes in the air, silent yet ominous.

Whoosh!

Elder Aro from Star Ring Fist was the first to close in within three meters. His body contracted before springing forward with explosive speed, driving a fist directly at Cassius.

Bang!

The punch cut through the air silently, colliding with Cassius's fist.

Swish!

Aro was overpowered, his feet scraping against the floor as he was pushed back five or six meters. His fist ached, his bones and tendons throbbing with a numbing pain.

"What tremendous strength!" His gaze sharpened with a hint of caution.

Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!

The rest of the combat artists closed in, engaging Cassius in close combat. This was a brawl, not a duel. Against a top-tier combat artist, there was no room for honor or martial spirit.

Amid the flurry of fists and kicks, Cassius shifted into a state of cold detachment. His eyes turned pitch black, as lifeless and precise as a machine. Every move was calculated, not an ounce more or less than necessary, like a pre-programmed mechanism, tracking and responding to every combat trajectory.

Bang! Cassius sidestepped a whip-like kick aimed at his left side, using his right arm to counter a punch. Spinning, he parried another fist from behind, his movements fluid and calculated. freёweɓnovel.com

Facing four opponents, he defended with ease, blocking all attacks and protecting his core.

Bam!

A hand chop sliced through the air, precisely striking an opening in his opponent's defense. It cut into the chest of the elder from Red Arm Fist, forcing him back several steps, struggling to breathe. Blood trickled from his mouth as he rejoined the fray.

The five shadows circled Cassius, moving at high speed. They threw punches, kicks, knees, and elbows from every direction.

The veteran combat artist elder from Soul-Breaking Sword wielded a long sword, tracing arcs of light that struck at Cassius's vital points.

Their speed increased, their cooperation grew tighter.

Gradually, they began to press Cassius.

Clang!

The razor-sharp alloy longsword quivered with a jarring shock, slashing at Cassius's back while he was locked in combat with two combat artists. A harsh ripping sound followed, leaving a huge tear in his fitted combat attire, with a faint trace of blood beginning to seep out.

"What a tough body! It looks like he's wearing some kind of alloy armor under his clothes. Even my Soul-Slashing Sword could barely break his defense!"

The elder of the Soul-Breaking Sword Sect called out in warning, exerting his arm strength to pull back and thrust his sword once more, sending another gleam of sword light slicing through the air.

This time, however, Cassius evaded.

The battle descended into a deadlock once more, though Eastern Nine Sects gradually held the upper hand. Cassius seemed to be tiring; each punch only inflicted mild wounds on the five combat artists facing him, lacking the overwhelming force he had displayed earlier.

At the edge of the first floor of Black Pupil Tower, the other seven combat artists from other Eastern Alliance sects were watching, tracking the ebb and flow of the battle. Observing Cassius's apparent decline, a few felt regret. This top-tier combat artist appeared to have fallen into a weakened state after unleashing his ultimate technique.

At this rate, it seemed unlikely that Cassius would defeat Eastern Nine Sects.

If he fell and Eastern Nine Sects won, would they trouble the bystanders like themselves? Quite possibly...

In hindsight, aligning with Eastern Nine Sects from the start might have been wiser.

Looking at the situation, adding one or two more combat artists might tip the balance, securing a decisive advantage to defeat the Golem Sect Master.

Meanwhile, unlike the seven combat artists who were visibly uneasy, Simone watched the scene without wavering.

Having ascended to the rank of combat artist himself, his sharpened vision hinted at something. The Golem Sect Master seemed to be using the clash as a means to train, employing only a single set of fist techniques throughout. His Red Falcon Fist had yet to surface, and he hadn't even drawn upon his intimidating physique.

Simone had once observed a battle between the Golem Sect Master and the Eye Devil. What had struck him most was Cassius's monstrous body, exuding terrifying strength. A single punch from him had forced even the Eye Devil, a fellow top-tier combat artist, to evade rather than meet it head-on.

Then there was his defense. The Eye Devil's swordsmanship included an ultimate move, the Dark Abyssal Annihilation, which Cassius had resisted outright with his body.

What kind of terrifying physique was this?

In the midst of the six-person melee, the Golem Sect Master still maintained a regular form, refraining from unleashing his physique to overpower his foes. Instead, he relied solely on his mastery of another precise set of fist techniques, exchanging blows with the five combat artists to test his skill.

Even so, even with the Golem Sect Master holding back his most formidable force, Eastern Nine Sects' five combat artists struggled to prevail over him. The disparity was simply too great.

Simone understood this clearly, shaking his head quietly, as if mourning the fate of Eastern Nine Sects' fighters.

Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!

A series of explosive sounds, like firecrackers, burst forth from the heart of the battle.

One figure and five others separated at once.

Cassius stood in the center, his clothes tattered and torn from the fierce clash. His muscular frame, faintly visible through the rips, gleamed with a stony, pale hue.

The five figures surrounded him from different angles, some looking pale, others with trembling fingers, each bearing injuries. Yet, they all looked on with a sense of confidence in their eyes.

Cassius, alone, couldn't withstand the combined force of all five.

" Rock white tight-fitting soft armor?" The elder of the Soul-Breaking Sword Sect squinted, his left arm raised in front of him with his crossguard longsword resting in the crook, its blade aimed at Cassius. Among all the attacks just now, this elder's blows had been the most effective, thanks to the advantage of his weapon. Despite Cassius's body being armored, his blade had still managed to draw blood.

"Wait, that's not soft armor! That's..."

The elder's eyes widened in shock, his previous pride vanishing. "That looks like skin!"

"He's not wearing armor; he resisted my Swordsmanship Secret Technique with sheer physical strength!"

"Impossible!"

A cry from another elder snapped him from his shock.

"Don't let him catch his breath! Attack together!"

Immediately, four figures surged forward once more, though the elder of the Soul-Breaking Sword Sect was a step slower, momentarily distracted.

Not far away, Cassius, though in ragged clothing, showed no trace of distress. He pressed two fingers to an acupoint on his chest, sighing with satisfaction, "Truly, this is a fist technique made for battle. The greater the pressure, the faster the progress and the stronger the force."

Hiss... hiss...

Two acupoints were opened, unleashing a torrent of Reverberating Force. Facing a combined onslaught was the best way to push the limits of his fist techniques.

Of course, Cassius had other intentions. He wanted to familiarize himself with the distinct traits and flaws of Eastern Nine Sects' various fist techniques.

Know your enemy and yourself, and victory is assured.

He cast a detached glance at the five charging figures, bringing his palms together before him with a thunderous clap. His Southern Dipper Sonic Snake Fist had another name, one Cassius had given it: Southern Dipper Explosive Fist.

In their recent clash, these five had already been imbued with enough Reverberating Force. Though some of it had likely been dissipated or diverted by their Qi, the remainder would be unforgettable.

"Reverberating Force: Explode!"

Suddenly, bursts of blood erupted from the five attackers, as though miniature bombs were detonating under their skin.

Bang, bang, bang... crackle... ahh!

All five combat artists were sent flying, some rolling across the ground, others on one knee, coughing up blood. The ground around them was marked with pools of blood, a testament to the explosive shockwave's devastation.

"What kind of fist technique is this? I've never seen such a destructively unique force!" gasped one combat artist, his chest a bloody mess from the explosion. He glanced around at his companions, some severely injured, others close to the same state, the situation dire.

"To withstand my Sonic Snake Fist under such pressure, you five have done fairly well." Cassius offered a remark, his lips curling into a vicious smile, clearly pleased.

He began to walk forward, his expanding muscles tearing through his clothing, leaving scraps of fabric in his wake. Dark, sinewy veins coiled like serpents across his rock-white muscles, dense and formidable as metal armor. His height surged from six feet to over seven, inch by inch.

With each breath, the air around his mouth and nose spiraled into a white vortex. His body temperature radiated outward, heating the surrounding air, like the arrival of an ancient beast.

The wound left by the Soul-Breaking Sword elder's strike on his back was now a mere scratch, barely half a finger's length. At a glance, it might even go unnoticed. But now, as Cassius's body rejuvenated, even that small fissure sealed up in an instant.

Thud, thud, thud, thud...

Each step he took on the marble floor resounded with a deep, echoing thud, like the steps of an advancing giant.

"Come on, keep going...

"The warm-up's over. Now, let's officially begin."